Tillandsia plant named ‘Tilstsil’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Tillandsia  plant named ‘Tilstsil’ that is characterized by a fast growth rate of 1 cm every 2 months, large flowers and regular spontaneous flowering. In combination, these traits set ‘Tilstsil’ apart from other existing varieties of Tillandsia known to the inventor.

Botanical classification: Tillandsia stricta.

Variety denomination: ‘Tilstsil’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofTillandsia plant botanically known as Tillandsia stricta and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Tilstsil’.

The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor in a cultivated area ofShizuoka, Japan in December of 1988. ‘Tilstsil’ was discovered as anaturally occurring branch mutation of an unidentified plant ofTillandsia stricta.

Asexual reproduction by division of the new cultivar ‘Tilstsil’ wastaken in December of 1998 in Shizuoka, Japan by the inventor. Since thattime, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the newcultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newTillandsia cultivar ‘Tilstsil’. These traits in combination distinguish‘Tilstsil’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existingvarieties of Tillandsia.

1. Tillandsia ‘Tilstsil’ has a fast growth rate of 1 cm every 2 months.

2. Tillandsia ‘Tilstsil’ exhibits large flowers.

3. Tillandsia ‘Tilstsil’ exhibits regular spontaneous flowering.

The closest comparison variety is Tillandsia ‘Cotton Candy’ (notpatented). ‘Tilstsil’ is different than ‘Cotton Candy’ in having thinnerdarker leaves with a softer texture and in producing pups yearly. Thesurface of Tillandsia ‘Cotton Candy’ leaves have bromeliad scales while‘Tilstsil’ does not.

The new cultivar ‘Tilstsil’ is distinguishable from the parentTillandsia by the following characteristics:

1. ‘Tilstsil’ has larger flowers.

2. ‘Tilstsil’ has a faster growth rate.

3. ‘Tilstsil’ has regular spontaneous flowering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the distinguishing traits ofTillandsia ‘Tilstsil’.

The plant in the first photograph shows an overall view of a 1 year oldplant.

The second photograph is a comparison showing an unidentified Tillandsiaon the left, Tillandsia ‘Tilstsil’ in the middle and Tillandsia ‘CottonCandy’ on the right. The photographs were taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Tillandsia cultivarnamed ‘Tilstsil’. Data was collected in Shizuoka, Japan from 1 year oldplastic greenhouse grown plants. The time of year was Winter. Thetemperatures averaged 25° Centigrade during the day and 20° Centigradeat night in the Summer. In the winter, the daytime temperatures averaged20° Centigrade and 10° Centigrade at night. The light level was naturaloutdoor light with 50 percent shade and there were no photoperiodictreatments. Color determinations are in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition, except where generalcolor terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growingrequirements are similar to the species.

‘Tilstsil’ has not been tested under all possible conditions andphenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance ingenotype.

Botanical classification: Tillandsia stricta.

Use: Ornamental perennial.

Plant Type: Epiphytic Shrub.

Parentage: ‘Tilstsil’ was discovered as a naturally occurring branchmutation of an unidentified plant of Tillandsia stricta.

Vigor: Medium.

Growth rate: Approximately 1 cm. every 2 months.

Growth habit: Open upright.

Plant shape: Rosette.

Suitable container: 10 cm diameter open mesh shelf, unpotted.

Height: 7 cm. in height.

Width: 12 cm. in width.

Hardiness: USDA Zone 9, withstands light frost.

Propagation: Division.

Crop time: From a division, approximately 1 year is required to producea finished plant.

Roots:

Root structure.—Epiphytic with velamen.

Root length.—6.2 cm.

Individual root diameter.—0.05 cm.

Root texture.—Smooth.

Root color.—199C.

Stem: None.

Foliage:

Texture.—Rough both sides.

Leaf arrangement.—Spiral.

Compound or single.—Single.

Quantity of leaves.—27.

Leaf shape.—Lanceolate, curled.

Leaf apex.—Acuminate.

Leaf base.—Sessile.

Leaf length.—9.8 cm. in length.

Leaf width.—0.2 cm. in width.

Pubescence.—present on both surfaces toward base.

Leaf margin.—Entire, curled.

Vein pattern.—Parallel.

Young leaf color (lower surface).—137A.

Young leaf color (upper surface).—137B.

Mature leaf color (lower surface).—137C.

Mature leaf color (upper surface).—137A.

Vein color (lower surface).—137A.

Vein color (upper surface).—137C.

Leaf attachment.—Sessile.

Foliage durability to stress.—Strong.

Inflorescence:

Inflorescence type.—Spike.

Inflorescence height.—5.1 cm.

Inflorescence diameter.—1.7 cm.

Lastingness of inflorescence.—Approximately 2 months.

Quantity of flowers.—15 per spike.

Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 20.

Flowering season.—Winter.

Time to flower.—4-8 weeks.

Rate of flower opening.—Slow.

Fragrance.—None.

Flower type.—Tricyclic, hermaphroditic.

Flower bud length.—0.7 cm. in length.

Flower bud diameter.—0.2 cm. in diameter.

Flower bud shape.—Ovate.

Flower bud color.—83B.

Flower aspect.—Upright.

Flower shape.—Bell-shaped.

Flower dimensions.—0.2 cm. in diameter, and 1.5 cm. in height.

Flower longevity.—A few days.

Petal texture.—Smooth.

Petals fused or unfused.—Unfused.

Petal arrangement.—Radial and upright.

Petal number.—3.

Petal margin.—Entire.

Petal shape.—Linear.

Petal apex.—Obtuse.

Petal base.—Rounded.

Petal dimensions.—1.1 cm. in length, 0.2 cm. in width.

Petal color when opening (upper side).—89D.

Petal color when opening (under side).—89D.

Petal color fully open (upper side).—93B.

Petal color fully open (under side).—93B.

Petal color fading.—83B.

Petaloids.—Absent.

Self-cleaning or persistent: Persistent.

Sepals:

Sepal arrangement.—Radial.

Sepal number.—3.

Sepal color immature (upper side).—128D.

Sepal color immature (under side).—128D.

Sepal color mature (upper side).—62C.

Sepal color mature (under side).—62C.

Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.

Sepal margin.—Entire.

Sepal apex.—Acuminate.

Sepal base.—Sessile.

Sepal dimensions.—0.8 cm. in length and 0.2 cm. in width.

Calyx:

Calyx shape.—Polysepalous, entire.

Calyx dimensions.—0.8 cm. in length and 0.25 cm. in diameter.

Bracts:

Bract quantity.—1 per flower.

Bract arrangement.—Erect to oblique, calyptrate.

Bract length.—1.7 cm.

Bract width.—0.8 cm.

Bract shape.—Ovate.

Bract base.—Sessile.

Bract apex.—Acuminate.

Bract surface.—Rough, sparse pubescence.

Bract color (both sides).—65A fading to 69D at base.

Peduncle:

Peduncle dimensions.—5 cm. in length and 0.2 cm. in diameter.

Peduncle angle.—90° to the rosette, then curving to 45°.

Peduncle color.—145B.

Peduncle strength.—Weak.

Reproduction organs:

Stamen number.—6.

Anther shape.—Filantherous.

Anther dimensions.—0.15 cm. in length.

Anther color.—8D.

Amount of pollen.—Moderate.

Pollen color.—1D.

Pistil number.—1.

Pistil length.—0.4 cm.

Stigma shape.—Truncate.

Stigma color.—9D.

Style length.—0.1 cm.

Style color.—4D.

Ovary color.—145C.

Seed: Seed production has not been observed.

Disease Resistance: Typical of the species.

Pest Resistance: Plants of the new Tillandsia have not been observed forpest resistance.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Tillandsia plant named‘Tilstsil’ as described and illustrated.